You're used to battling a runny nose, itchy eyes and a cavalcade of sneezes—and losing. Here's why your allergies are beating you.

By Corrie Pikul

Photo: Thinkstock

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You're having a bad reaction—or none at all—to your natural remedy.

There's some scientific evidence that butterbur, a plant that sounds like it was made up by J.K. Rowling but is often found near real-world marshes and streams, can act like a natural antihistamine. Although some of Bajowala's patients believe that taking butterbur extract orally helps their symptoms, she says that more research is necessary before she'll prescribe it. She adds that many people don't realize that butterbur is part of the ragweed family, which may trigger another allergy. She also strongly advises looking for butterbur products labeled "PA-free," which means they no longer contains naturally occurring pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that could be toxic to the liver. There's another popular theory that honey containing pollen from local plants will help you build tolerance to those allergens. While raw honey is safe (and sweet) for adults, Bajowala says there are no reliable studies that prove it will help your symptoms.

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Published 03/30/2012

As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any program.